Teacher of Mandarin (maternity cover)

TEACHER of MANDARIN (from August 2017 – maternity cover)

Dollar Academy is seeking to recruit a well-qualified teacher of Mandarin for session 2017 – 2018 to cover a maternity absence.

This post offers the opportunity to join a successful and dynamic department at this prestigious 5 – 18 HMC school of 1200 pupils. Dollar Academy is set in a beautiful central location, about 40 minutes north of Edinburgh.

The Modern Languages Department comprises nine teachers, and there are also Mandarin, French, German, Spanish and Italian Language Assistants. Modern Languages are taught in new purpose-built accommodation, each classroom equipped with Wifi, peripheral computer suites and interactive board.

The school operates a diversified language policy which sees pupils study either French, German, Spanish or, since August 2013, Mandarin from the start of FI (S1). With few exceptions, pupils continue with the study of their language(s) until the end of FIV, and uptake for Higher and Advanced Higher courses is well in excess of national averages. In recent years, modules in Japanese, Russian and Italian have also been available at the Upper School stage. The ability to offer another language (or a different subject) could enhance candidates’ applications.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach Mandarin from FI to FV in Session 2017‑18. Some FVI modular teaching is also likely to feature on the timetable.

The Modern Languages Department is very active in the area of exchanges and contacts with the countries whose languages we teach. On the Mandarin side, an annual exchange with a school in Taiwan is now established. In other languages, we also offer cultural visits and exchanges, some of these involving more extended stays and work experience for Senior Pupils. The expectation for the years ahead is that similar opportunities will be made available to Mandarin learners.

The overriding aim, within the context of the wider curriculum, is to encourage and enable each pupil to go as far as he/she can in mastering the language(s) studied. We have over the years produced a good number of very confident and competent young linguists who are able to boast, at the end of their school careers, an impressive level of fluency. We look to expand this tradition in the years ahead, bringing Mandarin learners to the highest possible level of linguistic proficiency.

The Academy has a rich co-curricular programme in which all members of staff are expected to participate. The ability to coach a team in one of the school’s major sports, or offer an activity, would be particularly useful.

The salary for the post will be in accordance with the SNCT main grade scales with the Dollar enhancement of 10% in addition. It should be noted that the Chartered Teachers pay scale does not apply to teachers employed by the Academy.

Candidates should either be registered with the GTC Scotland, or eligible for registration.

Applicants must complete the Academy’s Teaching Staff Application Form and provide a covering letter (a CV is optional). These should be emailed to rector@dollaracademy.org.uk

The application form can be downloaded from the Academy’s website:

http://www.dollaracademy.org.uk/vacancies

The closing date is noon on Thursday 11 May 2017

All appointments are subject to receipt of a satisfactory PVG Scheme Record or Scheme Record Update from Disclosure Scotland.

Contact: 01259 742511 or rector@dollaracademy.org.uk